New Exhibition at The Ukrainian Museum
.RAW | Ukraine on the Front Lines

November 18, 2017  April 29, 2018 Extended!

The exhibition .RAW | Ukraine on the Front Lines will open on Saturday, November 18 at The Ukrainian Museum (New York City). Supported by the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine, the exhibition presents a documentary photo chronicle of the transformation of the Ukrainian Army and Ukrainian society since the start of the war in Eastern Ukraine in 2014. Visitors will have a chance to view photographs by eyewitnesses and participants of the horrific events that changed Ukraine and the world forever.

The name of the exhibition .RAW Ukraine on the Front Lines refers to the wars Ukraine is fighting on two fronts: the military conflict and the information war. As State Secretary of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine Artem Bidenko has stressed, as a result of the numerous violations of Ukraine's informational sovereignty, there is a growing need to draw the attention of the international community to the events in the conflict zone. At the same time, there has been a modernization and rebirth of Ukraine's Armed Forces over the course of these events. The bravery of Ukraine's soldiers, the help of veterans and ordinary citizens helped the army survive the first months of the conflict and provided impetus for the sweeping reforms taking place: introducing NATO standards and new technologies, structuring the logistics system, and so forth, that put Ukraine on a path of Euro-Atlantic integration. Cooperation with NATO countries is helping to modernize Ukraine's Armed Forces, including logistics and standardization, energy and cyber security, management, medical rehabilitation and communication.

The exhibition showcases the work of 33 leading photojournalists and curators from Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries, including Aleksandr Glyadyelov, Brendan Hoffman, Joseph Sywenkyj, Ale?ander Vasukovich, and others. The exhibition has become an international platform for Ukraine's informational and cultural diplomacy.

The opening event will start at 6:30 p.m. on November 18 at The Ukrainian Museum in New York City (222 E 6th St) with a lecture on photodocumentaries given by war photographer Anatolii Stepanov.

The exhibition will open officially at 7:00 p.m. with an introduction by Artem Bidenko, State Secretary of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine, with representatives of "StratCom Ukraine" and the exhibition curators from the Pole Zoru agency.

The exhibition will be open to visitors from November 18, 2017 through April 29, 2018.

".RAW Story of Changes of Ukrainians and Army" is the first project by StratCom Ukraine in support of Ukraine's cultural and public diplomacy. On Nov. 8-10 photos from the book were presented during the exhibition "Modern Ukrainian Photography" at the Paris Photo international photography fair. ".RAW Story of Changes of Ukrainians and Army" is part of the two-year project "Army. Rebirth" (official site) launched in 2016. Is it the first attempt to compile the vast number of professional and amateur photographs from the start of the Maidan protests to the outbreak of war on Ukraine's eastern front. A nationwide call for photographs resulted in a documentary chronicle of the modern Ukrainian army as seen through the eyes of soldiers, volunteers and ordinary Ukrainians.

About the Museum

The Ukrainian Museum acquires, preserves, and exhibits articles of artistic or historic
significance to the rich cultural heritage of Ukrainian Americans; its collections include
thousands of items of folk art, fine art, and archival material. At its founding in 1976 by the
Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, the Museum was hailed as one of the finest
achievements of Americans of Ukrainian descent. Since then, and particularly since its move in
2005 to a new, state-of-the-art building in Manhattan’s vibrant East Village, it has become
known as one of the most interesting and dynamic smaller museums in New York City. Each
year, the Museum organizes several exhibitions, publishes bilingual (English/Ukrainian)
catalogues, and presents a wide range of public and educational programs, including concerts,
films, lectures, courses, workshops, and special events.